The Atlas of Marine Protection (mpatlas.org) is an online resource and webapp by Marine Conservation Institute that lets users discover the world's marine protected areas and see amounts and types of protections within regions around the global ocean.

President Obama Creates the World's Largest Protected Area

Extending to the horizon, the sea appears limitless, and throughout human history, we have often acted as if it is – catching fish in increasingly vast numbers and pouring in pollution that seems to disappear. No wonder ocean conservation efforts have lagged behind those of land efforts. Tragically, the ocean is now in distress from … Continue reading We Thank You, Mr. President. And So Does the Ocean.→

On August 13th Elliott Norse and I hosted the first Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) workshop at the University of Glasgow the day before the official start of the 3rd International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC3). Establishing rigorous and transparent scientific criteria for ensuring the effectiveness of marine protected areas is a complex and academically challenging endeavor. … Continue reading Marine Experts Meet to Define Criteria for the Global Ocean Refuge System→

I am very excited that President Barack Obama is rewriting ocean history today by designating the world’s largest strongly protected area in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Using his authority as President under the Antiquities Act he is proposing to dramatically expand Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument from 87,000 square miles to 782,000 square miles. … Continue reading Obama Steps Up for Oceans→

Secretary Kerry, in his welcoming remarks today at Our Oceans 2014, highlighted some very promising directions for the Obama administration. Among other things, he said: “Let’s develop a plan that protects more marine habitats, and we will have an announcement regarding that. I believe President Obama will make such an announcement.” “Today, less than 2 … Continue reading Kerry Highlights Some Promising Directions→

As some of you may know, today is the annual International Day for Biological Diversity. First proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993, the intent of the day is to increase understanding and awareness of issues related to biodiversity. Our team at Marine Conservation Institute has always fought hard to protect biodiversity in our world’s … Continue reading Saluting Ocean Biodiversity!→